SCARBOROUGH —  Residents voted 2,223 to 1,985 Tuesday in favor of the proposed $47.1 million school budget.

It was the third attempt to approve a budget for fiscal 2018, which began July 1.

“I’m so happy and amazed at how many voters turned out for the third referendum. That says a lot about our community,” Julie Kukenberger, superintendent of schools, said.

In a press release, school budget opponents Scarborough Maine Advocates for Reasonable Taxes, known as SMARTaxes, said “The results continue to underscore the division between those who support continuing growth in the school budget and those who are financially challenged by continuing tax increases.”

Fifty-seven percent of residents previously voted down a $47.4 million proposal on June 13 and on July 25 they voted down a $47.1 million budget, 1,930 to 1,847.

After the announcement of the results, School Board member Jacquelyn Perry said “OK, now we can get to the business of educating the kids.”

Melanie Sochan can be reached at 781-3661 ext.106 or msochan@theforecaster.net. Follow her on Twitter @melaniesochan.